Recently, Friedrich has modeled and sold in limited markets
their DIY Mini-Split Heat Pump, Breeze.
Just a few days ago, they scaled back their rollout in order to meet
customer demand by limiting sales to New York and South Florida. I am torn between two very valid arguments on
this product, the HVAC Professional and the Energy Geek in me have compelling
points. Please, read both before you
provide a comment!

HVAC Professional

Proper Sizing - In order to properly size the equipment, and
meet current building code in most of New England, an ACCA Manual J v8 Load
Calculation should be performed.
Although this equipment is variable capacity, installing the larger
option could be a waste of money, materials, and energy.

Equipment Installation
- Every HVAC professional knows during
installation that vacuuming of the refrigerant lines are required. Moisture can wreak havoc in an HFC refrigerant
cycle like R-410A. Non-condensables will
artificially raise liquid line pressures, decrease capacity, and raise
compressor amperage. Fortunately, the
engineers at Friedrich thought of this and provide pre-charged flexible line
sets that have quick connect fittings.
How long before that check valve hangs up, or wears out?

System Efficiency
- A 115V mini-split will almost
always use more watts than the same size 208/230V counterpart. This is why a professionally installed system
sport SEER Ratings from 22-27! If
disconnected following a heating or cooling season, it is guaranteed small
amounts of refrigerant will leak out.
How long before the unit will not operate, or efficiencies are so low
the window unit would have been the better option? Never thought I would have said that…

EPA Clean Air Act, Section 608 – Unfortunately, this ruling
that changed our industry for the better almost 20 years ago does not include
the restriction of equipment sales including HFC refrigerants, like
R-410A. Although sales are not
restricted, it is illegal to vent HFC refrigerants into the air.

Energy Geek

Energy Savings - For a homeowner, competent enough to install
this on their own, this could mean significant energy savings in both the
Summer and mild parts of Winter. Imagine
how many window units that historically are operating at 7 or 8 SEER would be
removed and hopefully scrapped!

Technology Advancement
- Flexible linesets, precharged,
and counted on not to leak is a far cry from some of the poor installs
completed by less than competent technicians out there. Don’t get me wrong, it is much less than 10% that
falls into this category. Maybe this is
the one thing the HVAC Industry can take away from this attempt of cutting them
out of a booming industry? Gone may be
the days of bad flare fittings, leaking or kinked line sets, and ripped pipe
insulation.

Window Sill Accessory
- This goes against everything I
can think of as a Building Analyst. Let
us offer an accessory that can be installed in a window, already the weakest
point in an insulated wall, to which a line set can pass through? What kind of leakage would this cause,
moisture pouring in, and offsetting any savings you may have had with the new product? But, in retrospect, how leaky was it with the
window shaker in there all last Summer, oh and Winter since we were too lazy to
take it out!

Can it be possible to put all of the negative factors aside
and trust everyone will be installing this equipment correctly? I can see it now, big box stores renting out
DIY install kits and the product being front and center on all of those network
television shows. Maybe the idea of
making these systems affordable by cutting out installation labor costs could
make sense for some parts of the world.
Please, I do not want to see them in parts of our country that have
power problems and Efficiency Rebate Programs to promote the proper design and
installation of systems that can save significant electricity! I would hate to be a Friedrich Dealer in
these areas where sales have already begun; I guess things could always be
worse…